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Post by Granny-Wan on Oct 30, 2007 20:53:11 GMT -5
Well, my first since I made a pixie purse in Girl Scouts in 1965... LOL  It's the cellphone holder from Tandy... which I saw on this forum somewhere and now can't find the thread... Buffalo Brown is a little darker than I expected, but I like it... The kit is QUICK AND EASY. I was so intimidated by the thought of working with leather... now I know I get to use a hammer and pound on thigs, it's FUN! I dyed the inside, too... don't know if you all do that, but I thought it would look ugly if I didn't, since some parts of it may show...First belt pouch for hubby's generic Jedi costume... Next project is the belt bag... looks much harder... |
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JediKai
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TJA Savior
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Post by JediKai on Nov 1, 2007 22:42:02 GMT -5
It might have been my post as I made that, too, earlier this year. I dyed the inside too as, I agree, it would have looked odd without the color. Nice job.
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Post by Granny-Wan on Nov 2, 2007 13:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks, it was fun, too.... yes I do think it was your post, now that you mention it... I thought it was a great idea...
I made the belt pouch kit, too... it was hard.... and I broke one of the snaps! I like using the hammer a little too much.... LOL
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Post by acalsohei on Nov 2, 2007 17:20:11 GMT -5
Looks nice, Granny-wan. I've made both of these kits, and they are fun. Whether to dye the inside or not probably depends how dark your finish color is. I didn't dye the inside of my cel kit as I used a light brown dye that was closer to the natural leather color.
On a "using the hammer a little too much" idea: When I made my new double belt and was setting the Sam Brown posts, I couldn't get them to lock in place. I took the belt to my local Tandy store, and the verdict was that I was being "too wimpy" with the mallet! Guess it all depends, doesn't it?
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Post by Granny-Wan on Nov 2, 2007 19:11:19 GMT -5
I started out being too wimpy and bent the snap post... tried it again with more muscle and ruined it!
But on my first rivet, I was way too wimpy and had to go back and re-pound it after the cell pouch was finished... tricky but I did it...
A belt project is next... maybe two!
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Post by Granny-Wan on Jan 18, 2008 1:50:59 GMT -5
Well, since that first cell phone pouch, I've made a belt and set of pouches for Grampy-Wan...  A set of pouches for a friend...   I also made her a belt, and I used Rustoleum Hammered Finished spray paint on the buckle, it looked great but I stupidly forgot to take a picture of it before I sent it to her... will post it when she takes one for me... UPDATE: Here's the buckle!  Also made a pouch for my new green Mara Jade outfit...  My next step is to stop using kits and try to make my own stuff! The Force will need to be with me... ;D |
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JediKai
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Post by JediKai on Jan 18, 2008 2:16:50 GMT -5
Well done!
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Post by Jauhzmynn Enz on Jan 18, 2008 8:10:04 GMT -5
Granny-Wan, all that stuf looks great.:-) You look like as if you had a ball. :-D I've bentrivits by the scores with my hammer.  Phooey. It's all a aprt of it. Hopefully you hadn't banged a finger. I had fun though, made a few belts and taught a friend of mine how to make hers and she's having fun. It's ok to use kits, until you're comfortable and confident with the materials. |
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Post by Granny-Wan on Jan 18, 2008 14:58:20 GMT -5
The kits are already cut and punched... but I traced the last set out so I can use them as patterns... I'd like to try some out of a softer leather...
Yes, I loved working on these, even if I did forget to buy rubber gloves and dyed my fingers green...
I love the larger belt pouch,, since it's handy to have at events... I discovered that oiling and working the leather before sewing makes it go together easier...
The longer pouches attached to grampy-wan's belt are flashlight pouches that I stretched out after sewing by leaving a screwdriver handle stuffed inside them for several days...
The small pouch in the other set is a knife pouch... it has a little space builit into it, but it wouldn't hold much... breath mints maybe, or emergency cash... but it looks good....
These are all Tandy kits, BTW... there's a store not to far from here.... they're starting to recognize me when I come in the door... LOL
A hint on belts: USe the "Craftsman" pre-snapped belt blanks, they are softer and easier to work with and look just as good as the more expensive blanks after they're dyed...
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Post by Kryy Jacobi on Jan 18, 2008 17:56:18 GMT -5
Nice work, Marie!  If you want some softer leather and you're ready to try your own patterns, you might look at this: [ftp]http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?number=9154-00[/ftp]  The "petite tooling calf" -- it's a small hide (about 6-7 sq. ft.) and about 2 - 2 1/2 oz. rather than 4-5 oz like a regular hide or the kits. Actually it's not really "softer" -- it's the same hard surface vegetable-tan finish, but it's lightweight and the finish is soft and buttery and yummy. If you have the Tandy frequent buyer card, it's on sale ($5.99/sq ft down from $7.99 sq ft) through the middle of February. I bought one to try to do some small items that are too stiff in the 4-5 oz. It is really lightweight, so I probably wouldn't use it to carry something heavy... like a camera. And, yes, I understand about being recognized... when I walked in, the fellow said, "there's my crafty friend"! |
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Post by Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar on Jan 18, 2008 18:44:12 GMT -5
Congrats! They look good!
I have a little leather case like yours that I made from a Tandy kit too. Only mine has the pouch plus a cylinder of leather attached to it I guess to hold a miniature flashlight (pen light) I don't know what else it could hold. Reminded me of 4H Camp projects from when I was a kidling
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Post by Leda EmBorr on Jan 19, 2008 0:18:48 GMT -5
Awesome job! Amazing what you start learning and doing when you get into costuming, isn't it?! ;D
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Post by Granny-Wan on Jan 19, 2008 13:42:26 GMT -5
I like the look of that lightweight leather! One of these days I will make new belt pouches for myself...the ones I have I bought, and they look very authentic, but they are stiff and uncomfortable to wear and hard to open and close... If I ever get moved I'm going to have a place to set up for some leather working along with my sewing... and get into the wholesale club at Tandy... LOL Someday I'll make my own belt just to say that I did!
Yes, it is amazing what we can learn through costuming.... it's true, one is never to old to learn! And, it's fun, too!
I'm thinking I could copy the larger belt bag (it's the Rover Bag kit) but make it narrower....be a nice utility pouch...
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Post by Jauhzmynn Enz on Jan 19, 2008 13:58:59 GMT -5
The Tandy store near me recognises me as well. They even suggested sicne I'm a part of a few costuming groups to get a business memebrship tog et leather and such even cheaper.
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Post by Granny-Wan on Jan 20, 2008 13:34:21 GMT -5
Yesterday I aquired sbout 10 lbs of scrap upholstery leather for FREE so I have some nice, soft stuff to practice on.... woo-hoo!
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Phooey. It's all a aprt of it. Hopefully you hadn't banged a finger.
